What does merely mean?
Definitions for merely
mere·ly
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word merely.
Princeton's WordNet
merely, simply, just, only, butadverb
and nothing more
"I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"
Wiktionary
merelyadverb
Wholly, entirely.
merelyadverb
Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Merelyadverb
Simply; only; thus and no other way; for this and for no other end or purpose.
Etymology: from mere.
Which thing we ourselves would grant, if the use thereof had been merely and only mystical. Richard Hooker, b. v.
These external manners of laments
Are merely shadows to the unseen grief,
That swells with silence in the tortur’d soul. William Shakespeare.It is below reasonable creatures to be conversant in such diversions as are merely innocent, and have nothing else to recommend them. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 93.
Above a thousand bought his almanack merely to find what he said against me. Jonathan Swift.
Prize not your life for other ends
Than merely to oblige your friends. Jonathan Swift.
ChatGPT
merely
Merely can be generally defined as something that is only or just its basic form or level, with little significance or importance attached to it. It emphasizes simplicity, insignificance, or lack of complexity.
Webster Dictionary
Merelyadverb
purely; unmixedly; absolutely
Merelyadverb
not otherwise than; simply; barely; only
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1332
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3103
Adverbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Adverbs Frequency: #125
Anagrams for merely »
yelmer
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of merely in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of merely in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of merely in a Sentence
At points of clarity, I realize that my life on earth is meaningless, and that I am merely a pawn in a bigger game. A game I cannot possible understand or have control of. Thankfully, before depression sets in, I drift back into my cloudy, bewildered daily routine.
Another belief of mine that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise.
A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned Godward.
North Korea has a long history of demanding concessions merely to negotiate, kim Jong Un is a murderous despot and habitual liar.
I want to thank all those who work for justice today, to ensure this is not merely a reckoning of things past but a change in our orientation to each other and this community in years to come.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for merely
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- بالكادArabic
- то́лькі, про́стаBelarusian
- merament, simplementCatalan, Valencian
- pouzeCzech
- bloß, schier, nur, lediglichGerman
- απλώςGreek
- تنهاPersian
- vain, ainoastaan, pelkästäänFinnish
- uniquement, simplement, seulementFrench
- csak, csupánHungarian
- soltanto, meramente, semplicemente, solamenteItalian
- 単に, ただ, ばかりJapanese
- គ្រាន់តែKhmer
- tantum, sōlumLatin
- louter, alleenDutch
- tʼóóNavajo, Navaho
- tylkoPolish
- somente, meramentePortuguese
- abia, doarRomanian
- то́лько, про́сто, всего́-на́всего, лишьRussian
- jedino, prostoSerbo-Croatian
- yalnızca, sadeceTurkish
- лише́, ті́льки, про́стоUkrainian
- 僅僅Chinese
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"merely." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/merely>.
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